Crusaders

Crusaders, known in Latin as crucesignati, were Christian pilgrims who "took up the Cross" and fought against enemies of Christendom in holy wars. The word "crusade" comes from the Latin word crux, meaning "cross", and it is an accurate depiction of their purpose - to fight for the cross against other religions or heretics within Christianity. The First Crusade, declared in 1095, saw Christians from across Western Europe (mostly coming from France, Germany, and the Norman lands in Italy) go on an armed pilgrimage to the Levant and seize the holy city of Jerusalem from the Muslim Fatimid Caliphate, establishing crusader states in the Middle East. Crusaders were nicknamed "Franks" by the Muslims, as many came from France, and the crusaders were responsible for several acts of cruelty in the Levant, including the massacre of Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem in 1099 and various actions against nearby Muslim lands. Crusaders typically painted red crosses on their uniforms and shields to show their faith, and they were led by their local nobles into battle. Some crusaders stayed in the Levant and colonized the region, while others returned to their homes after completing their armed pilgrimages. After the 1396 Battle of Nicopolis, there were no more major multinational crusades, as crusades after Nicopolis were simply imperialist wars justified by religious conquest (such as the Hussite Wars and the 1588 Spanish Armada, both fought against Christians).